The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-06-02
un purpose 10 puy IL Tor you. -

Oh purpose 10 puy IL Tor you. ....
''Tomp' exclaimed her husband, thor
oughly puzzled. "What had he to do
with it? left a commission myself for @
hundred pounds" ..... * #....
"You did?' said Mr.. Ferguson. "Then,
my good fellow, you've made pretty
mess of it, for we have been bidding against
each other all the time"
"It wasn't Toms fault" interposed
Mrs. Palecourt, che did it to oblige me- I
was SO anxious you shouldn't miss it. If I
had only known you intended bidding
yourself!' --..........-. E..., :,
"Never thought of It until was half
way to the station" growled Septimus,
still harping on the unnecessary outlay.
However, when morning came, and with
it the picture, its owner, who, in the mean
time, had reflected that afters@ he had
got it at ridicuously low price, felt equal
to discharging his liability, including
Shadrach's commission, with tolerably
good grace; and before many days had
elapsed the newly framed masterpiece oc-
cupied the place of honor in the gallery of
Fhurloe square. So elated, indeed, was
Septimus with the possession of such a
treasure that he literally talked of nothing
else; and it was confidently whispered, by
marvel, that poor Palecourt had decidedly
Cuyp on the brain.
Some weeks later, while strolling in
Piccadilly, he came across club &C
quaintance, Massingham by name; one of
those pillars of the turf who, when race
meetings are slack, occasionally turn up
in London.
"Hullor shouted that worthy; haven't
seen you for an age, Still at the old
place, eha I must look you up one of
these days."
DO" said Septimus, profiting by the
occasion to introduce his favorite hobby
"Come and lunch, and I'll show You q
gem of picture have just added to my
collection.n
CAN right. I'm no great Judge of that
sort of thing, though I ought to be, if
tastes followed suit. My father had a
fancy that way, and when he died, as
paintings were not exactly in my line,
sent the whole lot to the rooms last month
and realized tidy sum. The best of it
was, regularly floored old Moss"
''Moss?" said Mr.. Palecourt, inquir-
ingly.
"Why, I thought everybody knew
Moss, the bill discounter; lives in little
street off Holborn. The fact is, O year or
two ago had been hard hit OH the Cesare-
witch, and was couple of hundred short
when settling day came. So 1 went to
Moss and managed to get half in cash and
the remainder in case of the most vii
famous champagne you eyer tasted and a
daub of picture he called cattle piece,
not worth flyer, but which he swore
those fellows who swear anything, you
know was painted by some famous Dutch
man."
''Not Cuyp," faltered Septimus, begin.
ming to feel uncomfortable.
''That's the name," said Massingham.
''Three cows and two chaps smoking their
pipes and leaning against tree. Well, 1
made up the money somehow, and kept
the thing until the other day when I sent
it in with the rest; and what do you Think
Two idiots ran 1t up over hundred, and
wish the one who got it joy of his bar
gain. When told Moss he was furious.
Bye bye, old man; I'll see you before
leave town, and have look at your
gem"
ON take very good care you don't, I"
said Mr.. Palecourt to himself, as he
walked modify homeward.
Next day the apocryphal "Cuyp'' YVES
degraded from its high estate, and uncers-
moniously consigned to the lumber room;
and it is currently reported that our friend
Septimus is still in quest of q more au-
thentic work of art to fit into the empty
frame.--The Argosy.